• Willem de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam
  • SUMMARY

about

History

The Willem de Kooning Academy started in 1773 as a drawing fellowship and developed over the course of time into an academy in the fields of Media, Art, Design and education; it is part of the Hogeschool Rotterdam. The painter Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) once remarked, ‘I have to change to stay the same’ and that is the motivation behind the educational programme.

 

Vision

We train the ‘designers behind the labels’. The emphasis lies on developing an individual vision and design signature. The central focus of the study is the development of future perspectives and their visualization in physical garments and/or collections where fashion designers apply their creative and critical vision to reflect on current developments in the profession and/or society as large.

 

Signature

Our teaching programme is pragmatic and we work with students to achieve a realistic image of their own abilities and the possibilities for applying them within the professional field. Technique and three-dimensional insight are naturally indispensable, but so is a professional approach to the field as well as learning to recognize that fashion is principally about visual communication, and how your own designs communicate. During the four years students spend in the fashion department, the supervisory team gains a good idea of the student’s capabilities and we encourage exchange programmes or work placements abroad.

 

 

 

We work together with students to create the best possible profile, establishing their strengths and weaknesses and providing guidance in this area. The goal is for the student to show his or her best side during the final exams. I would not recommend having your own label right away, for instance; it is far better for students to gain broad experience within the profession and start their own label afterwards.

 

Piece of Advice

Keep working on your portfolio and in particular your on-line presentations; let people see what you are doing.

 

Lichting

The Netherlands needs an international podium for young fashion talent; we are good at what we do.


participants

Niels
Brinkman 2007
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Daisy
Kroon 2007
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Nada
van Dalen 2007
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Ellen
Rooijakkers 2008
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Itske
van Deursen 2008
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Joran
de Kok 2009
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Liesbeth
van Gemeren 2009
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Musa
Shah 2010
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Ruby
Verhoeven 2010
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Laura
de Wit 2011
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Albert
Jan Metselaar 2011
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Ilona
Putkaradze 2012
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Nadja
Wering 2012
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Katrien
Baaij 2013
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Maartje
van Hooij 2013
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About Lichting

“The Lichting platform shows that diversity is our Dutch strength.”

 

Gerrit Jan Vos

Course Director Fashion, The Willem de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam

 

 

 

 

 


contact and address

Address

Rotterdam University

Blaak 10

3011 TA Rotterdam

The Netherlands

 

Contact Details

+31 (0)10 2414750

 

Website

www.wdka.nl